If you are being controlled and emotionally abused, you are experiencing domestic violence. This is true even if there has never been any physical violence, or there's been only one act of physical violence.

One tool that helps many people understand domestic violence is the Power and Control Wheel. The behaviours on this wheel may help you see if there’s a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviours going on in your relationship.

This wheel was developed by female
victims who were abused by male partners, but – aside from ‘Using Male
Privilege’ – the actions on the various parts of the wheel are common to the
range of abusive relationships, whether the victims are female or male, or
whether the abusers are female or male.

If you want to talk confidentially about what’s going on in your relationship, you can ring Shine’s free national Helpline between 9am and 11pm, 7 days a week, on 0508-744-633.

If you want to figure out your risk level in terms of being seriously injured or killed, click here.

If you are feeling unsafe or experiencing violence, here are some options: